Our God, Eager to Save

Posted January 10, 2010

Tomohisa had reached a coveted status in Japan’s vertically-ordered society: medical doctor. Along with the status came wealth, which he used to buy the affection of women…and lots of booze. His selfishness blinded... [Read More]

The Humbled Tsunami

Posted December 2, 2011

When the warning sirens went off, residents in a south Sendai neighborhood fled to the local school. Together with panicked children still in class they climbed to the rooftop. Some 600 altogether... [Read More]

Japanese Get "Bach" Hope

Posted September 21, 2011

Who would have thought Bach would be involved in 21st century mission work in Japan? I have frequently read with interest of the strong connection between classical music (particularly J.S. Bach) and Japanese interest... [Read More]

Tsunami Ground Zero

Posted April 7, 2011

I still haven't returned from tsunami ground zero. That is to say, although I've been back several days already, the reality of the scene is still with me. The incredible amounts of mud in once beautiful homes... [Read More]

"Nice Try, Kevin" File

Posted February 9, 2011

This one goes into the "Nice try, Kevin" file. I just thought it was a nice-looking bunch of flowers in the storefront and, on the spur of the moment, decided Kaori deserved to enjoy them. Chrysanthemums, however, are... [Read More]

The Gulliver Complex

Posted November 9, 2007

I'm a giant again. Well, not really. But it sure feels like it again since returning from the States. The first sign was bumping my head in the shuttle bus from the airport. By habit, I normally duck my head through any... [Read More]

Foreigners Don't Get the Point

Posted January 31, 2010

I'm standing in line at a drugstore with other shoppers. The woman in front of me has just pulled out a business card file. Hurriedly she flips through at least a hundred or more cards searching for the right one. It's a... [Read More]

More Powerful than Bombs

Posted July 5, 2008

Fuchida grew up loving his native Japan and hating the United States, which treated Asian immigrants harshly in the first half of the twentieth century. Fuchida attended a military academy, joined Japan's... [Read More]

Ready?

Posted September 14, 2010

I'd been putting it off. Although I knew it was important, taking inventory of our earthquake and disaster gear just wasn't getting done. Japan rests along the "ring of fire" in the Pacific ocean, a stretch of area that is... [Read More]

150 Years Later

Posted March 17, 2009

This spring marks the 150th anniversary of Protestant Christianity in Japan. The first protestant missionaries set foot in the port of Yokohama back in 1859. Now they were real church planters -- overcoming all... [Read More]

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I for Japan. Japan for the World. The World for Christ. And All for the Glory of God.

— Kanzo Uchimura, Japanese Evangelist

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Rambling Notes from Japan

Here are some blog posts that we hope will make you feel a part of things, and help you understand how to pray better for us and Japan. Please see our external blog in Blogger, if this page does not display correctly.

Man vs. Mountain: The Fuji Climb

According to an old Japanese saying, "A man is a fool who never climbs Mt. Fuji, and he is a bigger fool for climbing it more than once." So, last week, together with missionary colleague, Greg Swenson and boys, Justen and I set out to undo our foolishness, finally getting around to a Japan "bucket-list" dream. We set out as the "Fuji Five" (a bit of that zest was lost along the way).

The weather was perfect for the climb. We started out at station 5 in early afternoon under clear blue skies and puffy white clouds, making it up to a mountain lodge at station 7 around 6pm or so in time for dinner. The view was breath-taking (and it wasn't just the thin atmosphere). Looking down through some scattered clouds, the entire Fuji five lakes area was visible, and far in the distance a glint of Pacific Ocean. During a curry rice dinner, lightning flashed down below us, though we ourselves were well above whatever was brewing below. Looking at a storm from above is a fascinating angle.




After a few hours of rest, we set out for the summit around 11pm. Our plan was to climb the relentless zig-zag paths upward through the night, definitely a cooler way to go. Oxygen was much thinner and we needed to take frequent breathers. But we were in great company: a couple of hundred more hikers in front and behind us moved slowly and methodically up the rock trails. All the headlamps bobbing along vertically looked for all the world like fireflies in a well-organized flight pattern. Above our heads was the clearest and most populated sky of twinkling stars that I've ever seen. If we knew what to look for, we could easily have spent all night sitting and picking out constellations. The night climb was worth it just for that stunning sight alone!

We arrived at the summit around 5am, having hiked for nearly 6 straight hours. We were exhausted, but just in time for Japan's best view of the sunrise. Hundreds of hikers sitting and standing on the mountain summit cheered and clapped as the sun poked above the horizon clouds. The lakes below shimmered and clapped, too. Wow! How I wish the camera lens could have adequately captured the beauty of those few minutes. How I wish I was not so busy taking pictures and could gawk a little more naturally. Amazing! I would not have thought it unusual if, in that glorious moment, Christ were to descend and the rapture occur. At that elevation we had a good headstart on meeting Him in the clouds.

After eating a noodle breakfast at the world's highest ramen restaurant (yep, there's one at 12,388 ft), and sending a postcard from the world's highest post office (one of those, too), we hiked down a little ways to the crater ridge and mused as to whether Fuji might ever be an active volcano again. There are rumors that the 7-magnitude quake predicted for the greater Tokyo in the next 4 years, could trigger an eruption. Another study predicts a massive landslide that would affect 400,000 people.

We headed back down the mountain around 8am, hoping to make it back to station 5 by noon. I'll spare the use of any endurance metaphors here, but suffice it say that "just keep moving" was something we repeated to ourselves silently over and over. It was a hard, steep climb down through what I can only describe as an alien planet-like landscape of red soil and rock. Nothing else of interest (although, I think I might have spotted NASA's Mars Lander). The volcanic soil turned our shoes and trekking poles an odd green.

We had missed a night of sleep. And without any visible points of interest, this long trudge down endless, slippery soil trails was especially tiring. For very long stretches, there were no facilities whatsoever. Japan has a million vending machines, but not a single one on the FujiYoshida trail! Not even a spot to shelter yourself well from the sun and elements. It was brutal way to come down from our "mountain high." Mercifully, a light fog followed us intermittently down the mountain and provided some shade from the sun's direct hit. Without that, we would have surely dehydrated (note to self: bring more water on Fuji descent next time).

Fuji is a great non-technical climb/hike that probably most people can do if they are in decent physical shape, take their time, go well prepared, and make up their minds to "just keep moving." True, it is a barren hike for most of the way, but the views of God's creation above and below are once-in-a-lifetime remarkable. Having said that, I think I am satisfied with having elevated my status out of being a fool, and not eager to become a "bigger fool" by doing it more than once. I may just stick to day hikes for awhile. I see some wisdom in that Japanese proverb!


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We serve with WorldVenture, an evangelical faith mission. Our sending/home church is Cornerstone Church of Lansing, Illinois.
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